Butt welding



I y g 1936- w. L. BROOKINS ET AL 7,306

BUTT WELDING Filed June so, 1930 4 Sheets-Shet '1 M mamma \& i I.

:l M V m 93 Q N NVENTORS' pm W I ATTORNEYS.

July 14, 1936- w. L.' BROOKINS ET AL BUTT WELDING,

4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 50, 1950 ENTORS ATTORNEYS.

' July 14, 1936. w. L. BROOKINS ET AL BUTT WELDING Filed June 30, 1950 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 39 V p W I INVENTORS,

ATTORNEYS- y 1936- w. L. BROOKINS ET AL 2,047,306

BUTT WELDING Filed June 30, 1930 4 Shebs-Sheet 4 4%, ATTORNEYS Patented July 14 im PATENT OFFICE BUTT WELDING William -L. Brookins, Builalo, and Homer W.

' Jones,-Williamsvllle, N. Y., assignors, by means assignments, to Union Carbide and Carbon Corporation, a corporationof New York Application June 8", 1930, Serial No. 485,008

The invention relates to machines be used for butt welding objects by heating the portions tobe joined and then forcibly jamming or. impactin theheated portionstogether at a i 5 .high veldh'ityr Heating by means of the oxyacetylene? flame is preferred but other means of heating may be used. i i i i The invention will ,be moreparticularly de-- scribed with reference to a welding machine for welding pipes of indefinite length which is shown in the drawings constituting apart hereof in which, a i i Y Figure 1 is a top machine,

Figure 2 is a longitudinal cross sectional view,

taken along the line 11-11 of Fig. 1, i

Figure 3 is a transverse cross sectional view taken along'the line 111-111 of Fig. 1', v t

Figure 4 is a crosssectlonal view taken along the line IV- IV ofFig. 1. Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken along the liheV-V of Fig. 1,

Figurexfi is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI of Fig. 2, 1

Figure I is a transverse sectional view taken along the line .VII-VlI of Fig. 2, r

vFigure 8 is a view showing the disposition of the torch tips with respectto the articles to be along the beams I, andpcross plates "or beams 2 which are secured together by bolts I to form ajframe or support. End yokes I and I. and an intermediate formed bywelding plates on another semi-circular collar. The. upper half of the yoke is secured to the cross plate by the bolts II, The yoke is parted along the lines it which-terminate on the inner circumference of the yoke -at diametri- 1 "really oppositepoints so that the plates ii may be removed as a unit to lower the pipe into the yoke or to position the machine around a relatively fixed pipe A. The yoke! is internally threaded to receive a threaded partially split collar IS.

The inner bore of the collar I5 is given a slide fit overthe pipe so as to align thefixed pipe in a the machine. Handles ii are provided to screw the 'splitcollar into the collar 5 and a belt I! is passed through openings in the ears II on the split end of collar ii to clamp the pipe in align- 21 Claims. (01. 78 -85) which may on another section of pipe;

plan view of a pipe weldingand is adapted to slide over the movable pipe 8 meat in the collar. In addition to its function as an aligning and clamping member, the collar "serves as one bearing member over whichthe machine may be moved along awelded-on length of pipe to place the machine in position to weld The end yoke I preferably consists of a collar which is welded into the end cross plate 2. The yoke l is internally threaded to carry a threaded collar l9 which is given a slide fit on the relative-- ly movable pipe B. The collar 18 servesas an aligning member for the movable pipe and as a bearingmember upon which the machine may be supported and moved along on a pipe or track.

The intermediate yoke 8 consists of a collar preferably welded in the intermediatecross plate 2. .The inner bore of the yoke is given a, slide fit over the pipe and it serves with yoke 'i as an aligning member for the relatively movable pipe 3 and as a supporting member to support the 20 machine on the pipe. .On one side of the yoke 9 is a. cylindrical projecting collar 2| upon which i a torch operating device maybe mounted and on the other side a collar 23 projects. At or near .the outer end of collar is a flange 25 and 25 longitudinal spaced slots 21 are cut through the flange 25 and .collar 2L0 t a A movable clamp 35 forthe movable pipe B consists oia split hub .and flange. The clamp is held together by a nut 28 screwed down 'on 30 the bolt 29 which bolt is passed through ears ll and 33 on the adjacent portions of the clamp. An end fiange or pressure ring 31 on the hub '35 is provided on its outer face with spaced projections or lugs 38 which are adapted to bear 35 against the end flange 25 of the collar 23 and to slide into the slots 21 when the clamp is turned into a proper position by means of the handle 38 and toretain the pipe B and clampin a withdrawn position when the clamp is turned into other positions.

Impact-producing forces sumcient to move the pipe B forward at a high velocity against the by compressing the coil springs ll. Thesprings ll of which there are preferably three-are spaced around the pressure ring 31 andsupported on longitudinally movable rods 43 which are adapted to slide through openings 45 in the pressure ring 31. The rods 43 are passed through the coil spring ll and are fixedly. attached to a spring compressing ring 41 which has a central opening against the springs 4| when the collar I3 is screwed into yoke 1 by means of the handles 49. Nuts 5| or other convenient adjusting and retaining devices are screwed on the outer ends of the rods 43 to prevent withdrawing the rods through the openings 45 and to provide for any desired longitudinal adjustment of the pressure ring in the'machine. Rods 43 are secured to the spring compressing ring 41 by the nuts 53 which are screwed down on opposite sides of the ring 41.

In preparation for welding, the frame and fixed pipe A are properly aligned and clamped in position by means of the guide 5 and by contracting the split end of the collar l5. The end of the relatively movable pipe B is preferably brought into contact with the end of the relatively flxed pipe A. The movable clamp 35 and plate 31 may, if desired, be withdrawn a short distance to provide for the shortening of the pipes when they are impacted and the movable pipe may then be clamped in the movable clamp 35. The movable clamp 35 and pipe B are then withdrawn into an inactive position by means of the handles 39 or by other desirable means and held in this position by turning the clamp and pressure ring 31 so as to cause the lugs to engage the flange 25on the collar 23.

The backward movement of the clamp 35 and pipe B into an inactive position is regulated so that the ends of the pipes will be separated a predetermined distance to ermit flames to be directed obliquely against t e ends of the pipes, the distance being suflicient to permit the entrance of flames which are projected obliquely against the ends of the pipes from the plurality of annularly disposed torch tips which are arranged on a diameter greater than the outside diameter of the pipes.

The springs 4| are then compressed by screwing the collar l9 into the yoke 1 against the spring compressing plate 41. The plate 41 moves over the pipe against springs 4| and carries forward the rods 43 which slide through the openings in the pressure ring 31. A greater clearance is preferably provided for the forward longitudinal movement of the pressure ring 31 to its completely released position than for the backward longitudinal movement of the plate 31 into its locked inactive position. This is done so that the springsmay be compressed to a point where they will prevent a. rebound of the movable clamp after the pipes are impacted to produce a forcible pressing together of the ends after the impact, and so that the pipes may shorten slightly and form a burr when they are impacted.

An alternative method of positioning the pipes for welding may consist in positioning the pipes with their ends separated and in position to be welded with the pressure ring 31 in its inactive position, clamping the movable pipe and then compressing the springs 4|, but other methods of procedure may be used.

When the ends of the pipes are heated to a welding temperature by a device hereinafter to be described, the pressure ring 31 is turned through an angle so that the lugs 35 slide into the slots 21 in the'flange 25, throwing the movable clamp ring 31 and pipe B forward in a straight line at a high velocity and striking the ends of the pipes together with a forcible sharp hammer blow. The springs 4| are compressed to produce a suflicient impinging of the pipes to break and eject surface oxides from the heated metal and maintain a strong compression of the contacted ends of the pipes after impact to prevent a material backward movement or rebound of the pipe B. The impacting of the pipes may be accomplished without discontinuing the heating or disturbing the torches in any way since the torch tips, hereinafter to be described, are positioned'on a circumference outside of the circumference of the pipes.

The torch operating device is preferably mounted on the collar 2| of the intermediate yoke 3 but it may be mounted on the collar 5 on yoke 5. The welding heat which consists of a plurality of torches with mixers for gas and oxygen or air are supported by arms 53. The arms 53 project from a central yoke 54 which has a central opening through which the pipe may be passed. The yoke 54 rests and slides longitudinally over four pins 55 which are secured to and project from a rotatable collar 51. The collar 51 is adapted to rotate on the collar 2| and is held from longitudinal movement by the collar 59 which is secured to the collar 2| by the set screws 6|. The torch mountingand the collar 51 are rotated and the torch mounting is moved longitudinally by the lever 63 which is forked at its ends and pivoted on the collar 51. Links 84 pivoted on the forked end of the lever 63 and on the central yoke 54 by the pins 61 and 63 respectivelycarry the yoke 54 and the torch arms 53 longitudinally on the pins 55. In rotating the torches the lines of flexible gas and oxygen hose which conduct 30 gases from sources of supply to the mixers 1| may be reeled around the collar 2| by means of rotatable collar 51.

The portions 13 of the oxygen supply pipes and the portions 15 of the gas pipes which are connected to the mixers 1| may consist of flexible or non-flexible metal or non-combustible material and extend along the arms 53 and flexible rubber hoseconductors may be connected to nipples 11 near the rods 55 so that the flexible conductors will be guided onto the reeling space around the collar 2| when the torch support is rotated and so that the burning of the gas conductors from the heat of the torches will be avoided.

Any number of gas mixers 1| may be used but two mixers connected to semi-circular ring pipes or headers 18 are usually sufficient. The mixture of oxygen and gas which is mixed in the mixers 1| passes through the send-circular ring pipes 18 and through the torches 19 which are mounted on the pipes 18.

One arrangement of the torches consists of alternative torches 13 with tips 3| to direct flames obliquely onto the end face of the flxed pipe A and alternate torches with tips 83 to direct flames obliquely onto the end face of the relatively movable pipe B. The tips 3| and 83are desirably spaced regularly on a circumferencesomewhat larger than the pipes to be welded so that longitudinal movement of the torches does. not interfere with the pipes. For welding pipes which are cut off on a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pipes, an angle of about 50 between the flames has been found to be satisfactory, but the flames may be inclined at other angles. With this arrangement it is desirable to arrange the spacing of the ends of the pipes and the inclination of the flames so that the flames will impinge obliquely on the confronting faces of the pipes and reflect on opposing faces.

In making the weld the torch tips are moved longitudinally along the pipe by the handle 63 so that the tips are positioned about midway of the space at the ends of the pipes. The torches are then rotated on the bearing 2|. About one complete revolution of the torches is desired togive uniform circumferential heating of the ends of the pipes. Two complete revolutions in one direca tion and a return to the initial position are genset of fiames is greater than the other set, the torches may be. shifted slightly in a longitudinal direction but the best results are obtained when all of the torches are adjusted to give substantially the same degree of heat.

Another arrangement consists indisposing the tips circumferentially around the pipe so as to project the flames in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis of the pipes and radially of the pipes. In making a weld with this arrangemenu, short distances at the ends of the pipes are uniformly heated about to a cherry red heat by y revolving the tips around the pipes and simultaneously moving the tipsback and forth longitudinally so that the fiamesimpinge first on the outer surface of one pipe and then on the outer surface of the other pipe. The tips are then stationed-toproject the flames through the space between the pipes and again revolved. The

spreading of the flames under these conditions heats the confronting faces of the pipes to welding temperatures ina mannersuch that substantially no burr isformed on the inside of the welded joint.

when the confronting ends of the pipes are heated to a welding temperature by either of the above described methods and then struck together or impacted 'with a sharp forcible hammer blow, the surface oxides are rejectedfrom the V heated portions. the ends of the pipes are welded together and a circumferential burr is formed around the outer circumference of the weld. It isbelieved'that this action is a result of more intense heating of the inner circumferential layers of the metal than of the outer layers of metal but we do not specificallylimit our invention to this theory of operation. f It is preferable, but not necessary, to continue the operationof the torches during the impacting of the pipes tomake sure that the heating is conleast until or during the moment of impact so that the welding'may occur at least i as soon as the metal has reached its welding temperature.

pipes heated to a welding temperature throughing temperature. -By maintaining the heating flames at least until or after welding, a high temperatin'e'envelope or zone of heated gas is maintainted around the weld. This prevents the metal from cooling below thewelding temperature during the short interval which might elapse if the flames were discontinued before the spring releasing devices were operated. It.is evident that the heatingmay be discontinued at the moment of impact. However the increase in temperature of the metal may be continued after the weld is formed.

The machine is especially well adapted to weld out. If the outside rim of metal'is not completely welded, the extent of the defectcis apparent to At the welding heat, metals cool with great rapidity and it is often desirablenotto heat the metalsto temperatures in'excess of the weldthe eye and defective welds may be identified by visual inspection. After the pipes are impacted, the burr is fused down and small deficiencies in welding may be overcome by the melting down of the external circumferential burr. The fusing of the burr serves to homogenize the external layers of metal, strengthen the weld, smooth the extinguished they can be conveniently re-established by turning onthe gas while the metal is red hot. Eitherbefore or after the burr is fuseddown the flames may be manipulated to anneal the weld by intermittently turning on theflames or by lowering the flames so that they will not fuse the metal.

When the weld is completed the clampsmay be loosenedand the machine may he slipped along the pipe B on the yokes 5, 1, and 9 until it occupies .a position on the exteriorend of pipe B corresponding tothe positionshown on the relatively fixed pipe A as described above.

, It is evident that the yokes 1 and 9 may be made in two parts like yoke as: that yoke can be made in one piece like yoke "I. It is. also evident that the machinecan be used for bending pipe. It is customary in bending to heat the pipe red hot along one side. For this purpose we may use only the torches which are mounted on one of the halves of the burner ring and move the burner ring longitudinally along the pipe with with a small reciprocating movement to give 1 the desired heated area. The heated portion of tion only by the prior art and by the annexed claims.

We claim:

i 1. A welding machine comprising a frame, means to hold the frame fixedly on a relatively fixed object, a clamp supported by the frame and relatively movable with respect thereto, means for holding said clamp in a retained posi tion, means for storing impact-producing energy on the clamp while it is held in a retained position, and means to release said clamp from said holding means.

2. A welding machine comprising a frame,

means to hold the frame fixedly on a relatively fixed object, a clamp supported by the frame and relatively movable with respect thereto into a released and a retained position, means for holding said clamp in said retained position means for storing impact-producing energy in said clamp including means forproducing forces acting circumferentially and directly on the clamp while it remains in the retained positiongand means to release said clamp from said holding means. v

3. A welding machine comprising a frame,

means to fix an object and the frame in predetermined alignment, means to clamp another 0b ,-je ct inlsaid alignment in the frame, said clamping means including means to move said'other tudinally secure the frame in axial alignment- 'wiih a relatively fixed object, a longitudinally movable clamp to grip a relatively movable object in end to end contact with the fixed object, means to withdraw and retain the movable clamp with the object gripped therein into a predetermined inactive position, means for storing impacta-producing energy on the clamp while the movable object is withdrawn, means for producing forces acting on said storing means to produce said energy means to release said clamp.

5. A welding machine comprising a frame, means fixedly secured to the frame to longitudinaily secure ihe frame in axial alignment with a relatively fixed object, a longitudinally movable clamp to grip a relatively movable object in end toend contact with the fixed object, means to withdraw and retain the movable clamp with the object gripped therein into apredetermined inactive position, means on said movable clamp for storing impact-producing energy, movable means independent of the movement of said clamps to produce forces acting on said storing means and producing said energy while the clamp is withdrawn, and means to release said clamp.

6. A welding machine comprising a frame, bearing means adapted to support the frame for moving it on a relatively fixed elongated object, said bearing having means to rigidly secure the frame and a relatively fixed object in longitudinal alignment, a guide on the frame in axial alignment with said bearing means adapted to support the frame and to align a relatively movable object with said fixed object, a longitudinally movable clamp adapted to grip the movable obect and withdraw the object into an inactive position, means to retain the clamp in said position, means for storing impact-producing energy in said clamp while in the retained position and means for releasing said energy to produce an impact force in said clamp to impact the movable object against the fixed object when welding thereto.

7. A welding machine comprising a frame, bearing means adapted to support the frame for moving item a relatively fixed elongated object, said bearing having means to rigidly secure the frame and a relatively fixed object in longitudinal alignment, a guide onthe frame in axial alignment with said bearing means adapted to support the frame and to align a relatively movable object with said fixed object, a longitudinally movable clamp adapted to grip the movable object and withdraw the object into an inactive position, means to retain the clamp in said position, and means adaptedto react on the frame for storing impact-producing energy in said.

clamp while in the retained position and means for releasing said energy to produce an impact force in said clamp to impact the movable object against the fixed object when welding thereto.

8. A machine for butt welding objects which comprises a frame, means to direct heat on the end faces of theobjects before they are welded and to direct heat on the weld, a guiding and clamping means to fixedly secure a relatively fixed object with its end adjacent said heating means and in longitudinal alignment in the frame, a longitudinally movable clamp to grip a relatively movable object in line with and with its end in contact with the fixed object, means for spacing the clamped objects a predetermined distance, means for storing impact-producing energy on the movable clamp while the objects are spaced and means for releasing said energy to impact the heated ends before said heating is discontinued.

9. A machine forbutt welding objects which comprises a frame, means to heat the ends of the objects to be welded, a guiding and clamping means to fixedly secure a relatively fixed object with its end adjacent said heating means, a longitudinally movable clamp to guide and grip a relatively movable object in' line with and with its end in contact with the fixed object, means for spacing the ends of the clamped objects a predetermined distance, means for storing impact-producing energy on the movable clamp while the ends of the objects are being heated, means to retain and release said clamp.

10. A machine for butt welding objects which comprises a frame, means to heat the ends of the objects to be welded, a guiding and clamping means to fixedly secure a relatively fixed object with its end adjacent said heating means, a longitudinally movable clamp to guide and grip a relatively movable object in line with and with its end in contact with the fixed object, means for spacing the ends of the clamped objects a predetermined distance, means for storing impact-producing energy on the movable clamp while the ends of the objects are being heated, and means to produce longitudinal and circumferential movement of the heating means.

11. A machine for butt-welding objects which comprises a frame, means to heat the ends of objects to be welded, a guiding and clamping means tofixedly secure a. relatively fixed object with its end adjacent said heating means, a longitudinally movable clamp to guide and grip a relatively movable object in line with and with its end in contact with the fixed object, means for spacing the ends of the clamped objects a predetermined distance, means for storing impact-producing energy on the movable clamp while the ends of the objects are being heated, and means for simultaneously releasing said clamp and said energy to impact the heated ends of the objects while said heating means is operative.

12. A welding machine comprising a frame, means for aligning two objects to be welded-in said frame, means for spacing an end of one object from the adjacent end of the other object. means for retaining said objects in said spaced relation to each other, means for storing impactproducing energy on at least one of said objects,

and means for releasing from said retaining means said object having impact-producing energy stored thereon, said releasing means adapted also to release said stored energy.

13. A welding machine comprising a frame,

means for aligning two objects to be welded in.

memos said object having impact-producing energy stored thereon to force said object toward the other object, and means for heating the adjacent surfaces to be welded while the surfaces are in spaced relation to each other and during the movement of said released object.

14. A pipe butt welding machine comprising a a against the adjacent heated end of the fixed 15. A portable pipe welding machine comprising a frame, means attached to said frame for securing said frame in longitudinal alignment to a stationary pipe, means attached to said frame for aligning a movable, pipe with said stationary pipe, said means for aligning said movable pipe having slidable engagement with said movable pipe, means for gripping said movable pipe, means carried by said frame for fusing the adjacent ends of the stationary and movable pipe, and means carried by said frame and cooperating with said movable pipe gripping means for feeding the movable pipe toward the stationary pipe during the fusing operation, said feeding means having means for impacting the ends of the pipes to be welded after the ends have been raised to a welding temperature.

16. A portable apparatus for fusing together the ends of pipe line sections including a welding head frame, means for securing the same to a stationary pipe line section, an aligning frame having surfaces therein for slidably engaging the exterior of a movable pipe section, means for tying together the welding head frame and the pipe-aligning frame, means for gripping the movable pipe line section projecting into the aligning frame, means carried by the welding head frame for fusing the meeting ends of the pipe line sections, and cooperating means on the aligning'frame and the section gripping means for feeding the movable section toward the stationary section during the fusion operation, said feeding means having means for impacting the ends of the pipes to be welded'after the ends have been raised to a welding temperature.

1'7. A welding machine comprising means to align a relatively fixed pipe and a relatively movable pipe in end to end contact, means to rigidly fix the machine to the fixed pipe, a longitudinally movable clamping ring having meansto clamp the same to the movable pipe, means to withdraw the ring and movable pipe apredetermined distance, means to store impact-producing forces on the ring in said withdrawn position, and means to release the forces.

18. A welding machine comprising a frame,

means to hold the frame fixedly on a relatively fixed object, a clamp supported by the frame and relatively movable with respect thereto into a released and a retained position, means for holding said clamp in said retained position, an abutment on said frame, springs interposed between said clamp and said abutment on said frame, means to compress, said springs against said clamp while said clamp is in its retained position, and means to release said clamp from said holding means.

19. A portable apparatus for fusing together the ends of pipe line sections including a member for attachment to one section of a pipe line, a

clamp for attachment to another section, a

separable alining frame interposed between said member and the clamp for encircling and guiding the pipe section engaged by the clamp, means extending from said member for holding the alining frame fixed relative thereto, a welding head for encircling one pipe line section and supported between said member and the alining frame for fusing the meeting ends of the pipe sections, said welding head being rotatably mounted relative to the member, and means connecting the clamp and the alining frame for feeding one of the pipe sections toward the other during the fusing operations, said feeding means having means for impacting the ends of the-pipes to be welded after' the ends have been raised to a welding temperaure.

20. A welding machine comprising means to align and fix therein a relatively fixed pipe and a relatively movable pipe in spaced apart confronting relation, rotatable heaters adapted to direct heat obliquely on the confronting ends, means to store impact-producing energy on the clamping means for said movable pipe, and means to release said energy to produce forces to impact the pipes while said heaters are in operation.

21. A welding machine comprising means, including a clamping device, to space articles to be welded in predetermined opposed relation; means to apply heat to the opposed faces of said articles; means to impress impact-producing forces on said device when said articles are apart; and means adapted to release said forces to impact said articles before the application of heat is interrupted.

WILLIAM L. BROOKINS. HOMER W. JONES. 

